Cholinesterase Inhibitors Comparison Quiz

Anticholinesterase Drugs

• Pyridostigmine is used orally every 6 hours to treat myasthenia gravis.

Edrophonium

• Edrophonium has a very short duration of action, making it mainly used to differentiate between cholinergic and myasthenic crises by observing patient response.

Glaucoma Treatment

• Echothiophate is used topically in the treatment of glaucoma, typically given once or twice a week.

Alzheimer's Disease

• Donepezil is used to treat Alzheimer's disease and can cross the blood-brain barrier.

Neuromuscular Blockers

• Neostigmine is primarily used to enhance recovery from the effects of competitive neuromuscular blockers after surgery when given intravenously or intramuscularly.

Tacrine

• Tacrine is rarely used nowadays due to its hepatotoxicity.

Lipid Solubility

• Quaternary anticholinesterase compounds are not lipid soluble, except for echothiophate.

Therapeutic Uses

• DFP (diisopropyl fluorophosphate) and echothiophate are used to treat glaucoma.

Organophosphorus Poisoning

• Muscarinic effects observed in organophosphorus poisoning include bronchoconstriction, increased salivation, and bradycardia.
• Organophosphorus poisoning affects the neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscles, leading to muscle weakness or paralysis.
• Herbicides are not a therapeutic use of organophosphorus compounds.

Myasthenia Gravis Treatment

• Neostigmine acts in the treatment of myasthenia gravis by increasing the amount of acetylcholine available at the neuromuscular junction.
• Muscarinic side effects of neostigmine can be controlled with atropine.
• In patients with ocular myasthenia, neostigmine can be used alone as a treatment.
• Plasmapheresis is a potential treatment option for patients with wide-spread muscle weakness due to myasthenia gravis.

Respiratory Paralysis

• Neostigmine is the antidote for respiratory paralysis caused by an overdose of competitive neuromuscular blockers.

Neostigmine Nasal Spray

• Neostigmine nasal spray is currently being trialed for the treatment of concussion.

Test your knowledge on cholinesterase inhibitors such as Pyridostigmine, Ambenonium, and Edrophonium. Learn about their similarities, differences, and usage in conditions like myasthenia gravis and cholinergic crisis.